Rotary jar and safety joint



(36h23, 1945. .1 Q RlCHEY l 2,387,682

ROTARY JAB AND SAFETY JOINT Filed Sept, 1. 1942 Patented Oct. 23, 1945`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

A2,387,682 ROTARY JAR AND SAFETY JOINT A James G. Richey, Alhambra,Calif. `Application September 1, 1942, Serial No. 456,876

(Cl. Z55- 27 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to oil well tools and appliances, and,more particularly, to a combined jar 'and safety joint, and my presentinvention 'is an improvement on the oil and tool vibrator patentedby meNovember 3,1931, Patent Number 1.829.758, and the combined safety `jointand jar, forming the subject matter of my copending application forUnited States Letters Patent led November 22, 1939, Serial Number305,636 and which resulted in Patent N0. 2,326,394, issued August 10,1943.

The principal objects of my present invention are to generally improveupon the construction of oilwell tool vibrators or jarsV disclosed in myaforesaid patent and patent application, as well as other existing formsof similar tools, by providing same with simple and eicient means whichfunctions as an added safetyjoint to prevent the sleeve or bowl portionof the tool from un-screwing from the threaded mandrel as the resultoflthe weight of said sleeve, and the tool carriedthereby, when thedrill string and tool are elevated so as to -withdraw the tool from thewellhole.

`It `will be understoodthat in my improved jar or vibrator a mandrel,which is connected to the lower end of the drill string and the mandrelin closing sleeve or bowl which carries the drill or other'tool, areprovided with interrupted threads which cooperate as the drill string isrotated to impart jarring blows to the tool in the eventthat the samebecomes stuck or lodged in the formation at the lower end of the wellhole and which jarring action is generally eiTective in loosening thedrill or other implement so that the same may continue to perform itsintended functions. j

It sometimes happens that in pulling the drill strlng'from the wellhole, the threads on the tool carrying sleeve run 01T the threads on themandrel which action is due to the weight of the sleeve and tool carriedthereby while the drill stringisbeing elevated Vin the hole, and it isone of the objects of my invention to provide a safety joint connectionincluding lugs onthe mandrel which engage in grooves and pockets in thesleeve forfelectually preventing the sleeve from running off themandrel.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts whichwill beihereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which I Fig. 1 is a vertical section talrenlengthwise through the centerof `my improved safety joint and jarandshowing the tool made up for drilling. f

Fig. 2 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, and showing the parts ofthe tool in position while imparting jarring vibration or jarring 'blowsto the drill or other tool.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of thesleeveorbowl `and showing the grooves and pockets o f the safety jointtherein.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal-section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-`5 of Fig. A3.

Fig. 6 isa horizontalsectiontaken` on the line E`6 of Fig. 3. i o

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical" section showing'an over-runing clutchbetween thev sleeve and mandrel and-also showing the shoulder on themandrel for engaging the end of one of the threads on the sleeve toprovide a driving connection between said'sleeve and mandrel.

Fig. 8 is an enlargedhorizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7and looking downwardly. 1

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a cross s lil-I0 of Fig. 2.

Referring `by numerals to the accompanying ction taken on the linedrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, I 0designates the lowermost portion of the lower member of the` drillstring which lower portion is internally threaded for the receptionofthe external threaded pin or plug portion II, which is formed on theupper end of a mandrel I2. This mandrel isaxially arranged within asleeve comprising an upper tubularmember I3, the lower'end of the latterbeing screw seated on the upper end of a lower sleeve member I4, and thelower end vof said member is internally threaded for the reception ofthe threaded upper end of a sub I6 to which the drill or other well toolis detachably connected. Formed on the upperportion of the mandrel justbelow the threaded pin II is a shoulder I'I, which when thetool is madeup for drilling purposesfbears `directly against the upper end `of theupper sleeve member I3, and seated in grooves I8, that are formed in themandrel below shoulder I'I, are conventional packing rings I9 whichprovide a uid pressure tight joint between the mandrel and the upperportion of upper sleeve member I3.

`Ashort portionof the mandrel. :lust below the up for drilling lowergroove I8, has the same external diameter as the internal diameter ofsleeve member I3, thus providing a substantial bearing 20 between theupper portion of the mandrel and upper member I3 and that portion 2I ofthe mandrel below bearing 20 is slightly reduced in diameter withrespect to the internal diameter of sleeve member I3. The lower end ofthis portion 2i; of the mandrel terminates in a shoulder 22, which whenthetool is made up for drilling purposes, rests directly on top of thelower sleeve member I4, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A short portion 23 of the mandrel, immediately below shoulder 22, isreduced in diameter with ,respect to the portion 2|, and the lower endof this reduced portion 23 is provided with a vertically disposedshoulder 24 that is adapted to engage the upper .end of the upper one ofthe internal threads which are formed within lower sleeve member I4 andwhich engagement provides a driving connection between the mandrel andsleeve during drilling operations.

Formed in the periphery of the portion 23 of the mandrel is a series ofpockets 25, the bottom surfaces of which are correspondingly inclinedcircumferentially and arranged to roll lengthwise of these pockets, areballs 26, which arenormally pressed toward the shallow portions of thepockets by expansive coil springs 21, thus providing a conventionalover-running brake or clutch between the intermediate portion of themandrel and the upper portion of lower sleeve member I4, and which brakeis eective in locking the mandrel and sleeve to each other While thetool is made up for drilling purposes, and while being raised andlowered in the well hole. This overrunning clutch is fully described andclaimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 305,636. f

That portion of the mandrel below the portion 23, and which isdesignated by the numeral 28, is reduced in diameter with respect totheportion 23, and said reduced lower portion extends downward through thelower sleeve portion I4 and into the upper portion of the sub I6.

Extending axially through the mandrel is a bore 29 which enables uid tobe circulated through the tool and to provide la fluid pressure tightjoint between the lower portion of the mandrel and the lower sleevemember I4, packing rings 30 are arranged between sleeve member I4 andthe lower` portion of the mandrel and vwhich packing rings are retainedin position by a nut 3 I.

Formed on the upper portion of the lower member 28 of the mandrel is aplurality of interrupted threads 32 which engage correspondinginterrupted threads 33 that are formed within lower sleeve member I4 andthe upper end of the uppermost one of these threads is adapted to engageshoulder 24 on the mandrel when the tool is made (see Figs. l and '1).Formed on mandrel portion 28, below the threads 32 is a plurality ofinterrupted threads 34, which are adapted to engage correspondinginternal threads 35 formed within lowersleeve member I4, and the upper'one of these internal threads 35 is spaced apart a distance of onethread from the lower one of the internal threads 33. The gaps betweenthe ends of the thread sections 32 and 34 are disposed 180 degrees apartand likewise, the gaps between thread sections 33 and 35 are disposed18() degrees apart. Y

The safety joint which prevents the sleeve and tool carried thereby fromrunning off the mandrel senese Y while the drill string is being raisedor lowered in the well hole is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive,and this joint includes a circumferential flange 36 which is formed onthe inner surface of the wall or upper sleeve member I3 and atdiametrically opposite points, portions of this flange 36 are cut awayto form openings 31, see Figs. 3, 5 and 6.

K Formed on the inner surface of sleeve member I3, a short distanceabove flange 36, is a flange 38 and at diametrically opposite points,portions of this flange 36 are removed to form openings 39. The verticalplanes on which the openings 31 and 39 are formed are disposed ninetydegrees apart. The lower circumferential portions of the flange 38between the openings 39 and above the openings 31 inflange 36, are cutaway slight distances inwardly'from said opening 39 so as to providearcuate pockets 40 on the undersides of said flange 3B with verticallydisposed shoulders 40a at the ends of said pockets. See Fig-.3.

Formed on the lower portion of mandrel member 2| at diametricallyopposite points are lugs 4I which are adapted to pass through openings31 in flange 36 and to occupy the lower portions of the pockets 40, alsothe channel or space which connects the lowerportions of said pocketsand which extends between the iianges 36 and 38 below the openings 39.

When my improved tool is made up for drilling, or while bein-g run into,or withdrawn from the well holes, the parts of'said tool may occupy thepositions as illustrated in Fig. 1 with shoulder 24 bearing against theupper end of the upper one of the internal threads 33, with the upperend of lower sleeve member I4 i bearing against shoulder 22 on themandrel with the upper end of upper sleeve member I3 bearing againstshoulder I1 and with the balls 26, positioned in the shallow portions ofthe recesses 25, so as to provide a locking engagement between themandrel and sleeve. Under these conditions, the threads 32 and 34 on themandrelare positioned beneath the `threads 33 and 35 `on the sleeve.

No claim is made in this application to the means just described forimparting jarring movement to the tool carrying sub I6, as such means ispractically the same in structure and functions, as the jarring meansillustrated 'and described in my above identied issued patents.

Thus, in effect, the tool is practically a one piece structure, androtary motion of the drill string will be imparted through the tool tothe drill, cr other tool, that is connected to the lower end of thesleeve.

In the event that the drill or tool connected to the lower end of thesleeve becomes stuck, and it is desired to impart vibration or jarthereto, in order to effect its release, the drill string ,is rstrotated anti-clockwise, or, toward the left, a sufficient distance tobreak the connection between the over-running brake with the lowerportion I4 of the sleeve, and the drill string to which the mandrel isconnected, is now drawn upwardly a short distance, until the balls 26,of the clutch are out of engagement with the upper portion of lowersleeve member I4, thus, positioning the parts as illustrated in Fig. 2.`Theldrill string and mandrel .are now rotated clockwise, or toward theright hand, and during such rotation, the drill string is put underupward stresses so that the threads 32 and 34 on the mandrel will bearagainst the underfaces of the threads33 and 35 on the sleeve,consequently drawing the mandrel down the distance equal to the pitch ofthe threads and when the threads on the mandrel run oif the threads onthe sleeve, the mandrel will be drawn upward with a sudden movement dueto the upward stresses impressed upon the drill string, with the resultthat sharp vibration or jarring blows will be imparted to the sleevetending to move the same upward and withdraw the drill, or other toolthat is stuck in the formation.

To impart downward vibration or jar to the drill or other tool at thelower end of the string, the latter is rotated toward the left handwithout upward stresses and as the co-operating threads run olf eachother, the weight of the entire drill string will force the mandreldownward so that the underfaces of the threads on said mandrel willstrike against `the upper faces of the threads on the lower sleevemember I4, thereby imparting downward blows to said sleeve and to thedrill, or tool connected thereto.

In the event that the weight of the sleeve and tool carried thereby,should overcome` the binding action of the over-running brake and runolf the threads 33 and 35 on the mandrel while the drill string is beingraised or lowered in the well hole, the sleeve after running oif thethreads 33 and 35 will drop until ange 36 on the bowl strikes and comesto rest upon lugs 4l.

As a result of this engagement, the sleeve will be carried upward ordownward with the drill string and mandrel.

Should sleeve lll rotate so as to bring openings 3l into position abovelugs 4l then said sleeve will drop and lugs 4l afterpassing throughopenings 31 will passupward into pockets 40 and strike against the underfaces of flanges 38 between shoulders a, thereby arresting furtherdownward movement of the sleeve.

Should the sleeve rotate while lugs 4| are in the pockets 4G, suchrotation will be limited as said lugs engage the shoulders 40a at theends of said pockets, thus preventing detachment of the sleeve from themandrel.

Should the sleeve frictionally contact the formation around the wellhole and stop momentarily while the drill string is being lowered withthe lugs on the downwardly moving mandrel positioned in the pockets 40,said lugs will travel downward until they strike against the upper faceof flange 36 and thus cause sleeve to travel downwardly with the mandreland drill string.

Should jarring operations fail to release the tool which is stuck and itbecomes necessary to leave same in the well hole, then drill string ismanipulated so as to cause lugs 4l to pass through openings 31 intopockets 40 and the mandrel is now lowered slightly and rotated toposition notches 39 in upper ange 38, directly above the lugs 4I,thereby enabling said lugs to pass through said notches 39 as themandrel is drawn upward (see dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 3).

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an oil well tool safety jointand jar, which is of simple structure, inexpensive of manufacture andvery effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

Minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts ofmy improved safety joint and jar may be made and substituted for thoseherein shown and described without departing from the spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a safety joint, the combination with a rotatively associatedsleeve and mandrel having means for limiting relative longitudinalmovement in one direction and said mandrel having a lug, of a pair ofspaced internal circumferential flanges on said sleeve, a portion of thelower iiange being cut away to form an opening, a portion of the upperflange being cut away to form an opening oifset from the opening in thelower flange, the lower portion of the upper vflange being cut awaycircumferentially to provide a pocket, the ends of which terminateadjacent the opening in said upper flange and the distance from the topof said pocket to top of the lower flange being substantially greaterthan the height of said lug.

2'. In a safety joint, the combination with a rotatively associatedsleeve and mandrel having means for limiting relative longitudinalmovement in one direction and said mandrel having a lug, of a pair ofspaced internal circumferential 40 flanges on said sleeve, a portion ofthe lower flange being cut away to form an opening to permit the passageof said lug, a portion of the upper iiange being cut away to form anopening for the passage of said lug, said openings being offsetcircumferentially relative to each other, lugs depending from the upperange adjacent the opening therein, which lugs provide stops for limitingthe movement of said lug circumferentially while in engagement with theunderface of said upper ilange, the distance between the underface ofthe flange and the upper face of the lower liange beingsubstantiallygreater than the height of the lug on said mandrel and thedistance between the lower faces of the lugs on said upper flange andthe upper face of the lower ange, being slightly greater tlnan theheight of the lug on said mandrel.

JAMES G. RICHEY.

